MEETING BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!!!

Monday

“If dreams came true, oh wouldn’t that be nice…” (Prove It All Night, 1978)

Since I started Burgers and Bruce the two questions I’m always asked are “have you met Bruce Springsteen” and “do you know if he even likes burgers”.

It was always a sad “no” to both. I did some research on the second question, and accepted the fact that the first was extremely unlikely, at best.

But this weekend I got lucky. I’m a big believer in things happening for a reason. To realise Bruce Springsteen is staying at the same hotel as you…It’s exciting, but actually pretty terrifying.

I had to ask if I could have a quick picture…

He called me “kid” and said “sure why not”. I didn’t tell him I’m not a kid, because Bruce is The Boss – he can call me whatever he likes.

Smiles!

I’m just a little bit excited

I took this as my chance to ask him about burgers.

Me: “Bruce can I ask you a quick question?”

Bruce: “Depends how difficult it is to answer…” (He’s witty).

Me: “I just want to know where your favourite place to eat burgers is?”

He tells me it’s a tough one, and looks like he’s really thinking about it. Maybe there are too many to choose from? He ponders more and I ask him if he does actually like burgers.

Bruce: “Pfff, what do you think!”

I bloody KNEW he would. I tell him to have a think and let me know.

I was so happy. Bruce was friendly, he’d told me he loved burgers and I’d got some quick pictures. I went on my merry way, not sure I’d actually get the answer to my question, but over the moon anyway.

Later that evening I see him again. He points at me with a “Hey kid” and then a new name “Burger Girl” (can this be my new nickname please…)

I ask him nervously if he’d had a chance to think about his favourite burger spot yet.

He stands there. I’m sat down on a sofa looking up at him, getting redder by the second probably. He pulls up a seat and leans in….so I lean in….And then he just starts talking.

“I used to eat a lot more burgers you know, when I was younger. But my shirt, it was getting tight!” I nod enthusiastically at his joke, yes, I know how this feels.

He stops and asks me, “Why are you so into burgers anyway?”

I explain about Burgers and Bruce. How the idea came about before seeing him play in New York, while eating a burger. I tell him it’s about my travels around the world to his concerts, the experiences I have, the food I eat, the incredible ‘Bruce Buds’ I meet. I show him my blog. I can’t believe it, because I’m showing him a blog about him, and according to him “it’s very cool”.

My Bruce Springsteen blog is Bruce Springsteen endorsed. No I am not dreaming.

Then Bruce tells me about the burgers he likes. He chats away, and he smiles when he talks about them. He talks slowly and passionately and is effortlessly cool. He doesn’t like anything fancy…he loves them “very very simple”.

He knows a lot about burgers. He shares some of his wisdom with me: “A burger in 1950s America. It’s nothing like what you get now. A thin little patty, squirted with ketchup, and that’s the only type of burger there was. So I still have a fondness for a good diner burger”. He likes the soda syrup mixed properly and the right style fries. Apparently “Johnny Rockets does it pretty good”.

Bruce continues, “There’s an art to it, but it’s mostly lost. There’s only a few places that sell a really good diner burger”.

A fuss free, unassuming, old style diner burger. I’d hoped that might be the answer.

I then ask him if he’s tried a Shake Shack, one of my favourite burger places. He says that he hasn’t, but that he’ll have to “check it out”. I hope he does. Sounds like he’ll like them.

Of course, I forget to ask him if he’ll go for a burger with me. Maybe I knew the answer to that one already.

But I did tell him how my dad would rock me to sleep to his music. How we used to listen to Born To Run in the car, volume up, windows down. I told him how that’s how it all started. So he writes a note to him.

So I wanted to share some of the conversation with fellow fans, because I hope it’s one you’ll enjoy.It’s not just about the burgers. He was charming and relaxed, and most of all – he’s a dude! But I think this conversation is just one of the many examples of how Bruce Springsteen cares about his fans. And that’s why we do what we do.

I hope that when I met him I did a good job of I representing the majority of other Springsteen fans. He knows how far we travel, the money we spend, and he doesn’t take that for granted.

Thatz soooo cool that u got 2 meet and even have a nice chat with Mr. Springsteen as well as get a couple picz with him 🙂 Im sooo jealous LOL I hope 2 1ne day have my dream of meeting him and having a nice chat with him like u did someday comes true 🙂 Nice Blog btw 🙂

I loved your story! Thank you for sharing. I met him back in 1995 and it was one of the best moments of my life. You will always have that to remember.

Anonymous

Congratulations! What an experience.

Anonymous

You are so lucky! You handled it very well. What hotel?

Anonymous

Just to echo all of the above; gorgeous tale, beautifully recounted, bought a tear to my eye, well well done x

Anonymous

What a wonderful story! I'm so happy for you and the pictures and the note are incredible. One of the many reasons I like Bruce Springsteen is the way he cares about his fans and the time he takes with them when he can do it. Good for you!

So awesome that you got to meet Bruce and talk to him about your passion. I did hear that lately, he's been eating less meat so like as he said, he's not so much into burgers today. I mean, he's past 60, and he has to stand there night after night 3-4 hours a day. It would take a really fit dude to do what he does, and burgers just isn't the thing to keep him healthy you know? Anyway, I did read an interview once that after returning to the US from the "Born in the USA" world tour, he went and had a burger at McDonald's. 🙂

Wow Burger girl 🙂 I'm so incredibly jealous but in the best kind of way!After watching the Springsteen&I movie i felt like each and every person on the screen and i feel the same after reading your story! My Dad got me into Bruce too! I hope you're still buzzing from your encounter!Oh by the way, my husbands friends run an awesome Vegetarian burger restaurant in Paris called "Eastside Burgers" … if you're ever in the area, check em out.x

What a fantastic experience, you both look really cool in the pictures and your smile says everything. You are a shining representative of all of us Bruce fans. He knows the passion we have for him and he reciprocates it every time he goes on stage. Great blog 🙂

Anonymous

Wow ..you had me both crying and laughing hysterically…. it was Born to Run that awoke me as well to the man and the music that very truly raised me. I have been fortunate to witness Jungleland 4 times and each time my soul is transported to another place that seems very close to cruising in my 1973 Nova with the windows down wishing only to get a some good kisses out of the girl by my side and understanding even at 16 that it is worse for the poets to be "wounded and not even dead.."